Dessner`s WCHA All-Stars Blast Norwegian Elite Teams

By Evan Andriopoulos

August 21st, 2000

The WCHA All Stars which included 7 NHL draftees, including New York Rangers University of Wisconsin product Jeff Dessner, toured Greater Oslo and Lillehammer and put a hurting on the Norwegian clubs by a combined score of 22-3.

The first game featured the WCHA team against Elite Series club Lillehammer. If not for the excellent goaltending of Swedish keeper Bengt Høglund, who made 39 Saves, the WCHA players may have scored 15. The US side played physical, upbeat hockey and dominated from the start, and won the game by a score of 5-0.

The second game came against Frisk-Asker, last years no. 3 team. Frisk scored first on a goal by Finn Mika Kannisto. The WCHA rallied with 7 straight.

This just shows how far behind the Norwegian sides are. VIF last year featured 9 and 10 Swedish players, many former All Svensken (1st Division – One level below top)… and some run of the mill Swedish Elite players. The US played a constant high tempo game and capitalized on virtually all classic N. American Opportunities, those being right in front. A difference between European and North American games is the amount of shots and where they come from. The Europeans typically look to maximize their opportunities…while North American`s simply fire from all angles. Regardless, a wonderful showing by some of tomorrow`s stars!